Santan, the in-flight catering subsidiary of Capital A Bhd, and Soft Space Sdn Bhd today announced a major upgrade to the in-flight retail solution, Fasspos, that enhances in-flight dining and shopping experience on AirAsia flights now supported by enterprise-grade tablets, according to a joint press statement by the companies circulated on Thursday.
The addition of Zebra Technologies’ enterprise-grade ET45 tablets is set to enhance Fasspos’ capabilities. The tablets feature larger, easy-to-navigate displays and robust Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, reducing transaction times by over 50%. These features enable cabin crew to focus on customer service, ensuring smooth delivery of Santan’s signature meals and beverages.
The introduction of the ET45 tablets also aligns with Santan’s broader vision of becoming ASEAN’s leading aviation supply ecosystem. With over 20 million in-flight food and beverage units sold annually, the upgraded solution further supports Santan’s goal of delivering high-quality, efficient service sacross AirAsia’s extensive network. (ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
In 2020, Santan became the first to implement SoftPOS technology for contactless payments on AirAsia flights. The Fasspos system empowers AirAsia cabin crew with a streamlined, all-in-one solution for inventory tracking, in-seat orders, and payment processing.
Soft Space is the leading fintech-as-a-service (FaaS) provider responsible for the technical aspects of Fasspos.
CEO of Santan Catherine Goh said, “By integrating innovative solutions like Fasspos, we elevate the overall guest journey while empowering our cabin crew to work more efficiently.”
CEO of Soft Space Joel Tay noted, “Fasspos’s unique dual ordering and payment functionalities on one device will streamline AirAsia’s in-flight sales operations, shorten transaction times, improve cost efficiencies and could potentially boost sales transactions on all of AirAsia Group’s fleet of airplanes.”
Meanwhile, Vice President of Zebra Technologies Christanto Suryadarma added, “Our enterprise-grade tablets are specifically designed for robust performance and durability, fastest Wi-Fi and cellular speeds with Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, and built-in barcode scanner and NFC, yet lightweight… enabling smoother transactions and unlocking of new potential for ancillary revenue streams.”
The global in-flight retail market is set to grow to US$11.0 billion (RM49.5 billion) by 2032 from US$7.2 billion (RM32.4 billion) in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.45% during the period.
The industry is expanding owing to increased air traffic post-pandemic, rising popularity of high-tech-enhanced flights and the proliferation of online shopping and distribution channels. The convenience of in-flight shopping has been elevated by the availability of a wider range of goods, including food & beverage products, gifts , apparels and fashion accessories, as well as books and periodicals.
